Lamont School of Music

University of Denver
Brass Class Syllabus 2016-17
I. PHILOSOPHY
The Brass Department of the University of Denvers Lamont School of Music is dedicated to giving students the tools
and support needed to develop high quality performance, music, and professional skills. Students will maximize their
growth and development by:
committing to performance excellence and artistry,
offering positive support and encouragement to others,
serving as a resource for one another and a mentor to less experienced musicians,
making studio lessons the highest priority and applying discipline and thoughtful planning to all practice sessions,
attending all lessons and brass classes, arriving on time, well-prepared and totally focused,
using all resources available, including students and faculty outside your major area,
working to enhance and maximize all learning situations, and
sharing needs and concerns directly and immediately to resolve obstacles and create a positive learning environment.

II. CURRICULUM
There are several components to your total curriculum. All of the components come together to provide you with a
complete and well-balanced education in your area of study. Organize your practice and study time thoughtfully
so that all course work is addressed adequately. Once you get behind in your studies it can be very difficult and
frustrating to catch up, and having to repeat courses will make future class loads even heavier and more difficult.
Most importantly always safeguard your individual practice time. Four years is a very short time to make the
transition from amateur to professional, and lost practice time cant be made up. If you find yourself in trouble,
seek help. Talk with your studio teacher, advisor, brass graduate student, or any brass faculty member. We all want
you to succeed!

The following classes are of particular value to performance majors, and should definitely be included in your
course of study: Orchestral Brass Studies, Professional Brass Techniques and Seminar in Performance
Psychology.

III. BRASS CLASS, JURIES, PROFICIENCIES

Brass class is required of all music majors enrolled in brass studio lessons. Attendance by Jazz and Commercial Music
Majors is optional, and their presence is always valued by the department. Brass class is designed to give students a
wide variety of experiences and tools for performance success. Brass class:
meets each Friday, 11am-12pm in Hamilton Hall.
is a required class for all music majors taking brass studio lessons.
participation and attendance is factored into the studio grade.
phones and computers shall remain OFF and out-of-sight during brass class.
absences must be cleared prior to class by sending an email to me at trombean@gmail.com.
unexcused absences will lower your studio grade one notch A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C- etc.
in the case of illness, students will make up performances at a following class and will communicate with
Scott via email to receive catch-up material and assignments.
Fall quarter will include performance with The Denver Brass and a short performance of something you
will record for the purpose of being accepted to a music festival, competition or comparable professional
event.
Winter quarter will include solo/excerpt performances and completion of audition recording and
application materials for submission to a music festival, competition or comparable professional event.
Spring quarter will include solo/excerpt performances.

Fall Quarter 2015 Brass Class Schedule, each Friday 11:00am in Hamilton
Sept 16 Orientation, Possible Graduate Students short performance.
Sept 23 Junior and Senior Short Performance
Sept 30 Rehearse Denver Brass musicFall assignment discussion
Oct 7 Rehearse Denver Brass music
Oct 14 Rehearse Denver Brass music
Oct 14 6:30pm dress rehearsal w Denver Brass in Gates Concert Hall
Oct 15 7:30pm Denver Brass concert in Gates Concert Hall
Oct 21 Short performances Freshmen & Sophomores
Oct 28 Short performances Graduate Students
Nov 4 Short performances Junior & Seniors
Nov 11 Sight-reading Solo Performance by all brass students - Career Assignment Due
Nov 18 Sight-reading Solo Performance by all brass students Festival assignment discussion
Winter Quarter 2016 Schedule
No juries winter quarter for those who have given a recital fall or first half winter quarter.

Jan 6 Hamilton Short report from study abroad students, discussion of study abroad, current greatest
challenges
Jan 13 Hamilton Short performances grad students
Jan 20 Hamilton Short performances seniors & juniors & Festival Assignment Due
Jan 27 Hamilton Short performances sophomores & freshmen
Feb 3 Hamilton Longer performances grad students
Feb 10 Hamilton Juries Hamilton Hall 8:30am-12pm
Feb 17 Hamilton Longer performances seniors & juniors
Feb 24 Hamilton Longer performances sophomores & freshmen
Mar 3 Hamilton Longer sight-reading performances seniors & juniors
Mar 10 Hamilton Longer sight-reading performances sophomores & freshmen

Spring Quarter 2016 Schedule

Mar 31 Hamilton Performances grad students
Apr 7 Hamilton Performances seniors & juniors
Apr 14 Hamilton Performances sophomores & freshmen
Apr 21 Hamilton Performances grad students
Apr 28 Hamilton Performances seniors & juniors
May 5 Hamilton Performances sophomores & freshmen
May 12 Hamilton TBA
May 19 Hamilton TBA
May 26 Hamilton Juries in Hamilton 9am-12pm, including sophomore proficiencies
June 2 Hamilton No Brass Class

Solo Performance:
In the ideal setting, we choose a solo several months prior to performance in order to fully develop the musical
message. With 10-week quarters, it is important that performance materials be identified as early as possible in order
to assure adequate preparation.
All accompanied solos must be performed with accompaniment. Freshmen and sophomores may be assigned an
accompanist/collaborative artist by Stephanie Cheng. Work with your studio teacher to assure that you have a
collaborative artist. Juniors, seniors and grad students must secure their own collaborative artist. See your studio
teacher or check the brass bulletin board for a list.
There are tremendous performance benefits to working with the same collaborative artist throughout the year. Cultivate
a good working relationship and be considerate and appreciative of their time.
Solo performances will have time limits. Be sure to tailor your piece if needed to fit within the allotted time.
Dress for brass class performances is dressy, reflecting the seriousness of your performance and your respect for the
audience.

Juries:
Juries are held twice a year, half way through winter quarter and the end of spring quarter, for the purpose of evaluating
individual performance progress.
Sophomores performance majors perform a sophomore proficiency in place of a jury spring quarter.
Jury performance consists of three or more studies chosen by the studio teacher.
Jury and solo performance grades are factored in as a major part of the final studio grade.
Prepare ONE copy of the Lamont jury form, typed or printed legibly, to the jury. List materials covered during the
quarter, and underline the selections which will be played at the jury. This form becomes part of your permanent
record. Scan and email copies of music to the entire brass faculty no later than noon one day previous to jury day.

Sophomore Proficiency:
Sophomore performance majors shall perform a Sophomore Proficiency in place of their third quarter jury. The Proficiency
examination is designed to determine whether or not the student is ready to continue in the BM degree program. Through
materials chosen by the studio teacher, brass performance majors shall demonstrate proficiency of the following skills:
Knowledge of all major and minor scales with arpeggios, number of octaves determined by studio
Proper breathing skills
Beautiful tone in all ranges
Consistent attacks and releases in all registers
Ability to play in tune
Ability to match pitch
 Consistent tempo
Understanding of complex rhythms
Phrasing
Musicality
Vibrato (trumpet, trombone, euphonium, tuba)
Double-tonguing
Triple -tonguing
Transposition (trumpet, horn)
Multiple clef reading (trombone, horn)
Other skills as identified by studio teacher.

Absence & Tardy Policy:

All brass music majors registered for studio lessons must attend all brass performance classes and related juries and
proficiencies on time. All absences require advance notification to Kathy Brantigan, by email Kathy@denverbrass.org.
If you do not have access to email, you must call Kathy at 303-829-4676. Absences will only be excused for serious
illness, unavoidable catastrophes, or conflicting activities as deemed critical to the students professional development by
the brass faculty. When you are absent, email Kathy regarding material you have missed. Any unexcused absences will
lower the studio grade by one notch, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C- etc. Each studio has its own syllabus with studio absence
and tardy policy. Three tardies of 10 minutes or more will be counted as an unexcused absence.

IV. STUDIO LESSONS

See studio syllabus for more detail.

Grades:
The studio grade is based upon effort, progress, the relationship of current performance level to expected performance
level, and brass class accomplishments. See student handbook for more information.
A = Excellent effort + excellent actual performance for your year of study.
B = Good effort + good actual performance of minimum standards.
C = Adequate effort and adequate actual performance of minimum standards.
D = Inadequate effort + inadequate actual performance of minimum standards.
F = No effort and no actual performance standards met.

Practice Expectations:
Although practice schedules must be tailored to individuals needs and goals, progress does not take place without
thoughtful management and use of practice time. For those whose career goals include performance at a professional level,
minimum daily practice is two hours. Students are expected to commit to a practice routine and schedule, which will allow
them to achieve performance skills commensurate with their career goals.

V. CHAMBER ENSEMBLES
Chamber ensembles provide the best opportunity for forming highly developed listening and ensemble performance skills.
Brass students participate in small ensembles fall and winter quarters, and participate in large brass ensemble spring quarter
for Jennies Concert. Chamber ensembles provide an opportunity to hear and respond to balance, tuning, expression and
style; and to explore team relationships and rehearsal technique. Because of the group dynamics of chamber music, the
success of each ensemble depends upon a commitment by every participant to strive for the highest possible level of
individual and group performance and interaction - every participant must give 100%. Unexcused absence is one of the
most serious transgressions in the music world. You are expected to rise to the level of a dependable professional musician
the minute you enter your first chamber ensemble rehearsal. In addition, you are expected to do everything within your
power to make your ensemble the best it can be, utilizing your best relationship skills to build teamwork, camaraderie and
musicianship.

VI. RECITALS - Read detailed information in online Lamont School of Music Student Handbook